Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security

Serbia, Intelligence and Security

Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1989, after the fall of Soviet
communism in Eastern Europe, the Balkan region fell into conflict. The
former Yugoslav provinces splintered into several independent nations, but
Serbia and Montenegro chose to remain a communist dominated state. The
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as the nation was renamed, is wholly
dominated by Serbia.

When civil war erupted in neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia provided
aid to ethnic Serb forces in the region. The international community
protested the move, and Yugoslav leader, Slobidan Milosevic signed a peace
accord with neighboring Bosnia and Croatia. In 1999, Serbia refused to
restore autonomy to Kosovo. Conflict lingered, and reports that Serbian
forces were perpetrating grievous human rights crimes against Muslim
Kosavars, including mass murder and deportation, prompted NATO
intervention in the region. Following a bombing campaign against Serbian
strongholds, peacekeeping troops entered the region.

Following the Kosovo conflict, Serbians ousted Milosevic in a general
election. Vojislav Kostunica was the first non-communist leader elected in
Yugoslavia in nearly 60 years. Though tension remains high in the region,
and periodic violence continues to erupt, Kostunica and his government are
committed to democratizing the national government and reforming the
economy. The function of the national intelligence community has changed
dramatically because of reforms.

The Serbian intelligence community maintains traditional distinctions
between internal and foreign, civilian and military intelligence, and
organizes its various agencies accordingly. However, many of these
agencies' expressed duties overlap. To avoid confusion and
facilitate cooperating and data sharing, the Council for Security
coordinates all intelligence and security operations relating to the
protection of national interests.

Though individual branches of the military maintain their own intelligence
units, the Ministry of Defense oversees the largest military intelligence
agencies and coordinates the intelligence and security operations of
various departments and units. The
Kontraobavesajna Sluzba
(KOS), General Staff Security Directorate, provides domestic security and
counterintelligence analysis for the military. The agency works closely
with Military Police to insure the safety and security of Serbian military
installations.

Civilian intelligence forces fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry
of the Interior. The
Sluzba Javne Bezbednosti
(SJB), Public Security Service is charged with the protection of public
welfare. The SJB guards diplomatic officials and aids intelligence
services with anti-terrorism operations. The future of this organization,
as well as its parent, the State Security Service (SDB), is unknown.
Government officials have reformed the organization several times,
stripping it of its powers to conduct espionage for political reasons.

In 2000 the government created a special anti-terrorist unit, the ATJ. The
group is trained in both civilian espionage and military battle
techniques. The special unit was granted a wide range of operation, from
intelligence to policing.

The structure of the Yugoslavian intelligence community is sure to change
in the near future, as the government continues reforms. Serbian
intelligence and security agencies have cultivated a regional reputation
for brutality over the past six decades, a problem that democratic
reformers seek to rectify. The new government arrested Milosevic and sent
him to stand trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The
international tribunal convicted Milosevic. Since the elections of
Kostunica and Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, the nation has made strides
to join the international community and participate in European economic
and security organizations.

On March 12, 2003, Djindjic, one of the primary leaders of Serbia's
reform movement, was assassinated by an unknown sniper.